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Marc's Safe Zone, and his network of interconnected Safe Zones, has been upgraded to an Industrial Technology level. With the new tech level comes a number of items that they've desperately wanted to build. Now railways, lighter than air travel, primitive firearms, and more are available, once the requirements for their tech chains are satisfied.

Marc has finally managed to get the day to day running of the Safe Zone out of his own hands and into hands he trusts. His mother is fully into the administrative end of things and his father, while head of the defenses, has now been granted build access on the pedestal so Marc is free to explore and grind for levels.

With the System trying to bypass its restrictions, the elves building a new settlement in Marc's Captured lands, and what seems like a major quest that needs doing, Marc's been slowed, if not totally stalled, on the expansion of both his Safe Zone and the network of Safe Zones that allow him to Capture land. Fortunately, the lighter than air tech chain offers a number of benefits, including the ability to search the surrounding areas and track down other survivors in their own Safe Zones.

1 pages, Audio CD

First published December 29, 2021

521 people are currently reading
80 people want to read

About the author

Tom Larcombe

27 books246 followers
Tom Larcombe was introduced to fantasy books at a young age. Those that were aimed more at children hooked him in, but not well enough for him to remember their names at this point in his life. Their draw led him to books aimed more for the adult reader and so he found himself, at around age eight, starting in on the Steven R Donaldson 'Thomas Covenant' series and the Hobbit, followed shortly thereafter by The Lord of the Rings books.

His reading tastes have never looked back, although they have broadened to include science fiction and the occasional non-fiction book.

He lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with his wife, two daughters, three cats, and a variable number of chickens.

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5 stars
1,404 (58%)
4 stars
721 (30%)
3 stars
225 (9%)
2 stars
41 (1%)
1 star
11 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
Profile Image for XR.
1,976 reviews106 followers
January 8, 2022
Lots of progress, upgrades and giant chickens for the folks of Any Port. I was a tad disappointed when the satellite didn't provide a computerized update for Any Port though, you'd think having that kind of advantage would have given them a better upgrade than old school pistols from way back when.

I adore Marc and Felicia though, as hetero as they can be... I wish they'd have a baby for Amy to play with, but it's too soon. There's too much to do!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Johnny.
2,163 reviews78 followers
January 11, 2022
Book three

Mistakes: I found a few and have listed them on Goodreads.

Plot: Still growing his safe zone. This is more of a day to day type book. The population is to small for the human race to survive. So unless the author brings in around ten thousand to a single safe zone, survivors each of the safe zone will start dying out within a generation.
Also why does the main group keep trying to do everything? They should have enough extra population that they could have a few people helping out with things like sewing gas bags and helping with mooring the craft.

Characters: I like to see some actual leadership from the main MC instead of him doing every project himself. Yes there are some characters that help out, but more delegation is sorely needed.

5/10
Profile Image for Brian Delambre.
51 reviews4 followers
January 3, 2022
this was a really good book

This was a really good book and I enjoyed it. I hope you give it a shot. Be good kind to the author.
Profile Image for Kat.
577 reviews2 followers
February 21, 2024
4.6 stars. Fastest read yet in this series.
168 reviews
January 6, 2022
Boring but good

I know. Kind of an oxymoron but it was good for a steadying read and not good for on going adventure and excitement. I like the characters and the storyline but like reality tv it has good and bad parts.
Profile Image for Robert.
262 reviews
January 22, 2022
Not as good as previous books

The author repeatedly used the word 'ought' when he should have used the word 'should' and it was very jarring.

The character Jeff has gone from amusing to downright irritating.

What ruined this book for me was the "white privilege" comment. I am tired of political crap and books should be a way to get away from that. This author wants to virtue signal in his books and is losing me as a reader as a result of that.
45 reviews
October 24, 2025
This continues to be a very good series.
Marc and the team are increasing their levels and continuing to expand their safe zone.
They have reached the next technical level and are exploring more of the surrounding area.
This book had a new more fights with high level creatures.
Profile Image for John-Torleif  Harris.
2,723 reviews12 followers
January 1, 2022
Will we get more adventuring?

So my biggest question is, if the higher Endurance results in the body raising its resistance to alcohol and removes the ability to get drunk, why does drinking caffeine not have the same result? Marc drinks coffee all of the time, even though he clearly doesn’t need any stimulant, and even worries about needing to hurry home from a mission when he fears that he will run out. Is it just habit? Does he truly enjoy the flavor so much that he feels it’s a needed luxury even though he gets no benefit/boost from it?

Are Marc and his team still the highest ranked party? They spend so much time not adventuring that I would think that Ron’s group, or another dedicated party would have surpassed them by now. Or did the clear out all of the high reward mobs and no one else has had the chance to increase as much? Also, wouldn’t they want to reach out to the smaller, and nearer Safe Zones first to start their trade routes, since Marc’s primary concern is that they have sufficient sources for their needs?

I’m interested to see where things go. Was the satellite really an accident, or was it a test from whoever is watching? Is the whole planet now just reality TV?
Profile Image for Old Time Tales.
308 reviews7 followers
October 27, 2023
Trying hard to like it.

This series has a lot going for it. A clever, plausable explanation for "The System". We learn about "The System" at a reasonable pace. The (few) combat scenes are well thought out, challenging and interesting. You can tell that the story is building to something interesting.

And to be honest that promise of future details is all thatkeeps me reading. Because the series is missing so very much.

There is little character development. Marcus talks to all kinds of people every day but few of them even have names. And the ones that do have names the only thing we know is their jobs. Michael the bee keeper. Reggie the coder. The blacksmith whose name I forgot.

There is very little conflict in the book. Maybe that will pick up layer in the series. But when the strongest conflict you have in your book is between the protaganist and his MOTHER your book is hurting. I keep expecting some kind of serious personality conflict to develop between Pete and Marcus (which would be stupid) but so far we've avoided that.

Marcus is such a whiny, STUPID hero. He wanders around, doing leathercraft projects when he has powerful, unique skills that he fails to develop. His ESL skill could be a tremendous asset talking to and dealing with spawns but they just kill everything they encounter.

And the complete lack of effort to establish some kind of communications network. They have an industrial level of technology and none of them thought to make a radio? My gosh, what total idiots.

I have read the first three books and I was going to quit after this one. The only reason I'm going on to book 4 is the cliff-hanger ending of book 3. I am curious to see what happens next.

Oh yeah! Beggar! Another completely neglected asset. Such a cool NPC, yet Marcus is fully oblivious to his potential.

And if Jeff does not end up riding a giant chicken as a mount I will be severely disappointed. Especially since his girlfriend has the beast master skill. Actually, if he ends up riding a giant chicken I will be surprised. It's the kind of thing this book would just leave lying on the table.

Maybe that's what disappoints me the most. There is so much cool stuff that they could be doing that just does not happen. Instead of doing the cool stuff the hero wastes his time making leathercraft projects.
255 reviews4 followers
May 8, 2022
No more

I wish that this book had been just a little bit worse. Why? Because then I wouldn't have had to read to the end. Everything that was wrong with the other books is here, only amplified.
First, the good, not many typos. And that's about it.
The bad:
1. The characters go from being caricatures to being cartoon characters. All are incredibly shallow, and lack any real personality. There's the nerdy hero, the GF who 'stands by her man', the big dumb guy, the sneaky bitter guy who undercuts everyone, and a tag along GF who makes you say, 'Is she just here to have another pretty girl to make us know that even geeks can get a girl?' The overprotective mother, and the cool dad. Any personality acquired in the previous books disappeared.
2. The dialogue was so bad that it hurt my eyes to read it. Seriously, no one says that they aren't good at interpersonal interactions, they say that they aren't good with people. Which brings us to the thing that bothers me the most.
3. CHARISMA? Really? So far boosting a dump stat has not benefited the MC in the least. He still puts his foot in his mouth every couple of pages, and is clueless about other peoples' feelings. He congratulates himself on interpreting the most simple social cues. I think he's at an 8-9 charisma and that's it? There has not been a justification for why he is so determined to get his charisma to10-11. Does he really think that an absentee landlord needs a super high charisma?

So there's more to complain about, like lackluster fights boring arguments, really dull safe zone expansion, etcetera. But in short, just barely a 2 star book. I'm not reading any more, and neither should you. Tom out
Profile Image for Frank Castle.
61 reviews
April 6, 2025
1st book was kinda fun in a junior high writing kind of way- second was fine too… this third book has elevated the soap opera and relationship drama to chapters and chapters with the jealous character who is mad the main character had a better family life and then absurd romance tension - I started to skim some to get through a whole chapter of emo trash hurt inside drama. Yes of course humans have drama and hurt and Yes I loved the drama in The Time Travelers Wife or The Host. But NO sorry this author has not gained the writing acumen to start on the drama track…. It was kind of good with the reunion of some peoples to the characters - but no way too much wounded good guy who acts tough and then stupid junior high girl-boy relations - seriously do not want pages of descriptions about main chatter worrying about pleasing his girl friend - 3rd book definitely has to be skimmed - no idea what you will do if you are an auodio book person- I guess grin and bear it and pretend you are in junior high and can overhear two couples at lunch talking about thier absurd romance
Profile Image for Clint Young.
849 reviews
January 30, 2022
KU Review

“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”

As the title says this is a review for Kindle Unlimited and as such is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book and in no way reflects cost to value analysis. I hate trying to define my enjoyment and describe facets of it that would appeal to someone else. It is simply not my style. But for the sake of those fishing for clues:

Character development: good
Game elements: minimal
Harem elements: none
Summary: really enjoy the blend of rpg and base building.

I will happily discuss the book with you on Goodreads if you are so inclined. As always, I am open to debates and arguments, but also vain enough to seek acknowledgement, so feel free to roast me or applaud my efforts. Either is acceptable, because if you are paying attention to me then you are at least considering the book. And THAT my friends is exactly why you see my comments here.

Cheers
994 reviews13 followers
January 17, 2022
Good and steady

So this was a credible Addition to the series. They were no big monstrous battles there they were a few decent ones. The majority of this book is city planning and expansion. Tech levels and learning. All of this is of course fun. However if you're looking for more Seat of the pants type of flying you won't find it here. The MC and his party are fairly methodical in their approach to the new system and attempt to take advantage of every nuance to improve their situation. By the end of the book there have been some hints at some larger problems to be dealt with. I enjoy the series and look forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Travis.
2,857 reviews48 followers
June 5, 2022
Ahh, nice to come back to this series. I like this world, and the way it's progressing, want to see what's next, so off to read the next one. Good to see the tech level rising, should be interesting once the space age shows up. It's kind of like sim earth if anyone remembers that old pc game. Quite the interesting story. Loving the scattered safe zones, hoping to see them work together, and maybe combine them eventually, but I'm guessing not likely, just because of how humans are, and especially after the system arrived, but again, who knows. Anyway, great story, and looking forward to more.
Profile Image for Ford Miller.
707 reviews6 followers
November 13, 2023
So...gave up on this series. Slow pace, unnatural dialogue and just not enjoyable.

Tried to get book three a go after getting through the first two however the writing continues to just be so bad it's unenjoyable. The slow pace and over explaining every single conversation and emotion is so tedious. The author tries to impart modern social views and it comes off as condescending and immature. I only hope his dialogue is not how he feels normal people talk to each other.
I'd like the premise of the story enough to try to get through the first two books but it's just getting too unimaginative and boring.
51 reviews
January 13, 2022
Enjoyable, but a bit pedestrian

Enjoying the series as a whole, but this book was loaded with development. Generally I enjoy that aspect, but it was a bit much. A lot of time spent meeting for meals and working on project. Anything exciting was but a blip and over. Regardless, I binged the book so that is telling. Series as a whole a solid 4.5 stars. 3 stars for this one just because of how slow it was. Book 4 sounds like it is going to be a hit. Looking forward to it!
44 reviews
February 9, 2022
Wheee!

Id never read much in this genre before but got onto it after reading Michael Taggert's fledgling god series which melds gameLit and fantasy. I've devoured this whole natural laws apocalypse series up to book three, they are really fun absorbing reads, I like the technical aspect to story progression and the almost total lack of angst. It's a pleasureto read and not yell at characters. Now to read the rest of Larcombe's work... already light online is pretty darn good.
157 reviews4 followers
August 7, 2023
Good series, except…

I really like the series itself. I made it through 3 books, but I just can’t anymore.

The character Jeff is so horribly written that it detracts from the story itself. He is the embodiment of every douchebag trope I can think of. I have never hated a character more in any book or series ever. I actively hope that he will be killed off or kicked out of the group in every encounter. Sadly that never happens.

As much as I enjoy the story itself, I am tapping out at 3 books. Literally one character killed the entire series for me.
11 reviews
January 6, 2022
Great series

One I'd the better written series I've found lately that doesn't give insane advantages to the main character or overpower them really quickly. Well written and thought out with a good combination of base building and fighting, although this one had a little more attempted college(i.e. hitting the monster in the privates) and dad humor than I thought it really needed.
408 reviews9 followers
January 6, 2022
Excellent

Book three continues Marc's mission to expand the safe zone and explore the area,new technology is available to help their efforts. The safe zone is expanding nicely to encompass more resources and opportunities for the residents and a modicum of normality has been restored Marc is still kinda weird,Jeff is still a jerk and Reggie steps up. Looking forward to book four and investigating the city.
Profile Image for Steve Naylor.
2,471 reviews127 followers
January 19, 2022
Rating 4.0 stars

Everything I wrote in my reviews for the previous books is the same in this one. There is nothing really new. If you liked the previous ones, you will like this one. If you didn't, well you probably wouldn't have gotten this far then. I still agree with my previous opinion that this is a weaker YA version of the Shadow Sun series. Doesn't make it bad, just makes the other series a little better IMO.
Profile Image for Wilhelm Eyrich.
366 reviews27 followers
January 23, 2022
Pretty good sequel!

This one seemed more base builder and slice of life than the others. The team still goes out and gets stuff done but for the most part, the book focuses on the dad to day stuff and the continued growth of their Safe Zone.

Jeff is the only real downside of this book as he becomes more of an asshole character instead of having some growth. Would have been cool to see more progress in their levels but next book seems like it will have plenty of action.

7
689 reviews11 followers
June 10, 2022
Looking for Life in an Apocalyptic World

Marc and his team are always trying to expand their abilities and the Safe Zones. To do that they must always keep working outside the Safe Zones, but doing so is to always put their lives in danger.
From start to end, cover to cover, there are constant challenges to live and grow.

Great read & I'm looking for more challenges to come.

Read in 5 days
387 reviews
March 12, 2023
Another Success for this Series

Really like reading this series, plenty of growth, action, and story telling. I agree with some of the reviews that Jeff is getting to be too big of a pain in the ass. If he is killed off, there still is a need to add a character near his class and abilities. I would just prefer to have him grow up a little bit than to get rid of him. Highly recommend this book.
47 reviews1 follower
January 3, 2022
Good escapism

So far I have read all the books in this series, the story-lacks nothing so far no dead ends or unsatisfactorily resolved issues, in short good solid characters, some surprises, action and adventure, the author has consistently delivered solid entertainment, a great week end read!
7 reviews
February 27, 2022
And another liberal finds a platform

The first several books were a good read not the best but far from the worst. Then he feels the need to explain how working hard to better yourself is WHITE PRIVELAGE, if I could give zero stars and a review that's what you would get you liberal hack!
1 review
August 12, 2023
So far so good.

Started a bit better then previous books. Bigger fights not as glorious as before but still good. Character development was best yet. Solid read if you liked others story could have been compacted more but much more time in this course than others so I can see strength of this book.
Profile Image for Michael Lynn.
332 reviews
January 17, 2024
Still enjoying the series but at times fairly frustrating with some of the characters delving way too much into social and psychological issues. It tends to break up the flow of the story without contributing much. Still this is a solid and interesting book and I do really like Tom Larcombe but can hope future releases will stray into this territory a bit less.
Profile Image for Tracy Crabtree.
149 reviews
January 2, 2022
Better & Better

Great story continues to get better. The characters are intriguing, although Jeff worries me. Glad they're a smart group as traveling certain to bring good, and dangerous, circumstances. Can't wait.
85 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2022
Like where it is going

Glad the author is continuing to build the world and characters at a measured pace, and not making everything OP. Can't wait for the next book to read the next great adventures the team will have.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews

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